Leos 26 v Hullensians 10

Leos were finally able to resume their league campaign on saturday,with Hullensians visiting Crag Lane.Due to the weather,this was only the second game of 2011,but even so,Leos were still lacking half a dozen players for a variety of reasons.Fortunately,the increased size of the first team squad,still enabled them to field a competitive sideThe teams had drawn the reverse fixture 24 - 24 over at Springhead and both Clubs sat comfortably in mid table.The down pour of the previous 24hrs had the left pitch very soft,but frankly the players and supporters were pleased to get the game on.

In still,mild conditions,only a small crowd assembled,but Leos got off to a bright start,using the full width of the pitch and utilising the contrasting styles of wingers Baker and Sleight.However in contact,the powerful and experienced visiting forwards were able to secure turnover ball,with relieving kicks run back with relish by Bindloss and Baker.Leos were securing clean ball,via the continued impressive form of Debenham at the lineout,but there were few holes in a solid visitors defence.

Against the early run of play,Hullensians were first on the scoreboard,when a clever inside ball,sent their right winger through an alarming gap.He chipped the full back and a centre won the race to the line.The conversion was added to give a seven point lead after 11mins.Leos also lost Sleight to a side strain,forcing former skipper Burden,to make his seasons debut on the wing.Possession began to even up,with Hullensians enjoying a slight advantage at the scrums,but this was largely nullified by the fine,disruptive work of Wood on his opposing scrum half.

Hullensians were already displaying signs of ill discipline,when on 23mins their hooker punched Forton,immediately in front of the referee.He was somewhat fortunate to spend only 10 mins in the bin.Leos used the extra man to their advantage,when a dominant scrum led by Connell,Forton and Loughbury,allowed Wood to explode from a scrum base.He fed the powerful running Lane,who intelligently drew a defender,before a lovely soft pass put the ever supporting Knibbs into space.A good defensive tackle seemed to end the 80m move just short of the line,but Bardon secured quick ball and amazingly Burden appeared with Dan Eddie speed,to round the full back and score.Henry added the conversion,to level the scores on 26mins.

Returning to 15 players,Hullensians exerted a period of pressure via their forwards,requiring important tackles from Freear and Henry to keep them out,yet it was Leos who looked far more dangerous with ball in hand,with half breaks from Winter and powerful kick returns from Baker.The half ended,as it had started with Leos in the ascendancy,as their younger,fitter forwards took control.Loughbury and Levitt drove into the visitors,Wood controlled the ruck like a Little Napolean,demanding more effort from his forwards,Lane and Freear responded with athletic runs,before Hullensians were forced to handle and kill a try scoring oppourtunity.

Again reduced to 14 men,Leos took the ball to the corner,more drives from Connell and Forton,assisted by Baker,allowed Debenham and Levitt to carry Barden over the line,for a try on half time.An important conversion from Henry put Leos 14 - 7 up.

Hullensians started the second half with renewed vigour,reverting to their traditional and effective pick and drive policy.It brought early results,as after a series of drives,Bindloss was forced to kill a try scoring oppourtunity for Hullensians and the consistant referee duly binned him.Hull took the three points on offer, to reduce the margin to four and the game was wide open.Crucially,Hullensians had a further 10 mins on attack,but brave defence on the fringes from Bardon and Forton and rock solid,crunching tackles in mid field from Henry,Knibbs and Winter,kept the Leos line in tact.

Dowling and McIntosh replaced the impressive Freear and Forton and Leos gradually began to earn field position,helped by the experienced Henry,who nicely mixed his options,with long kicks to the corners and taking the ball strongly to the line,with the ever willing Knibbs running off him and enjoying the physical contact.

Impressive lineout work from Lane seemed to have secured a further Leos try when the forwards drove over,but the referee ruled the ball had been held up.However,Hull couldn't stem the tide and the forwards and backs again combined to put Henry in at the corner on 68mins.A towering,touch line conversion in the very soft conditions put Leos up 21 - 10.

Leos now looked for a bonus point,but Hull were still proudly defending their line,until in the closing moments,the hard working Levitt,enjoying one of his best games,found a gap to the left of a ruck,accelerated through and the young flanker scored a well deserved try to give a final score of 26 - 10.

A hard fought,but in the end a comfortable and deserved win,yet there could have been a different outcome,if Leos had not held out,early in the second half.Coach Greenwood was delighted with the victory and much credit must go to the grit and determination he and Simon Worrall - away with Rotherham - have installed in the team this season.

Elsewhere,wins for Huddersfield YM and Pocklington,leave them clear at the top,but a win for Roundhegians,puts them in a tussle with West Park Leeds,for the second relegation spot,with Rushworthians.In mid table,only 8 points now separate 9 teams.Next week,Leos entertain second placed Pocklington,where they will again have to contend with a large,effective set piece,but a team with greater speed and variety out wide.

Leos Ladies continue to lead North 1 in their tight tussel with Waterloo,whilst the ladies second team are comfortably in mid table after a convincing 36 - 12 victory over Ormskirk Ladies.The 2 XV are third in their Merit League,but with games in hand on the leading two,the thirds have put three successive victories together,whilst the fourths continue their world travels,with a tour to Scotland to take on Edinburgh Northern.

Finally,for supporters out of the region,School are enjoying a fine season with only one loss,to Newcastle RGS and victories over old rivals Bradford GS,QEGS and Ampleforth.
Report by Peter Cooke
Leos scorers: Tries,Burdon,Barden,Henry,Levitt,conversions Henryx3 Leos:Bindloss,Baker,Knibbs,Winter,Sleight,Henry,Wood,Loughenbury,Forton,Connell,Ffreear,Debenham,
Barden,Lane,Levitt,Burdon,McIntosh Dowling